Beware Parisse in the springtime

Having turned down a move to Leicester last week, the Stade No 8 should show them what they’re missing this afternoon

THEY love their No 8s at Welford Road, and although there are not many in the eyes of the Tigers worthy of mention in the same breath as the iconic Dean Richards or Martin Corry, "Deano's" blood-and-guts successor, Sergio Parisse is one of them.

The fact that the Italy No 8, who was hailed by many as the player of the RBS Six Nations, is fit to line up against Corry for Stade Français in today's Heineken European Cup quarter-final will send a shiver of apprehension down Leicester spines on a couple of counts.

Stade have been the catalyst for shattering changes at Welford Road once before, notably when Richards was sacked after a home loss to the French club in their European Cup pool three years ago.

Parisse had yet to join the Parisians from Benetton Treviso at that stage, but the 6ft 5in, 17st Italian has done enough